The power of education and information

(How  Television can affect your patients)

What is the power of Education and Information via Television

Is It:

The power of the spoken word?

The power of visual images?

The power of information from trusted people?

The power to chose what to tell people?

The power to impact many lives in a short amount of time? 

 These are the powers that Television can use to deliver messages to patients. 

These are also the same powers that any one can use to deliver their message, whether that message is accurate and complete or just touches the surface.  

We were recently presented with diabetes information by the Today Show. 

They dedicated approximately 20 minutes over 2 days to use their power of information to give millions of people what NBC thought was important.  

They got to choose the images, information, and words that millions of people would watch, listen to and trust. They neglected the most important part, EDUCATION 

Last week our publisher wrote a letter to NBC and the Today Show. He also asked for your support and comments. His goal was to cause the Today Show to offer the information we as educators feel is important.  

You have risen to the occasion. We have over 300 signatures and 100 letters from educators indicating what the Today show needs to do. It is not to late to add your name or letter to the list. Please go to http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/educatorsforum21.htm and leave your name, title and any comments you would like to add. 

 The today show delivered a lot of information in the 20 minutes allotted. They did help increase diabetes awareness just by doing the feature. They did express the need for people to have their glucose tested. They also showed some exciting things for the future, some portrayed as being available today. 

 Unfortunately they also presented this disease as something you just occasionally stick your occasionally finger and take a pill or a shot for. They left out the most important part Education and Patient Self-Management.    

We have asked that the Today Show do another feature on Diabetes this time focusing on Education. 

We are also contacting other video, audio and print media with the same request. 

We have included some of the letters that you have written for us. We would like to share some of these letters from your peers with you.  The complete letter to NBC Today Show is at the end of this section. 

 

 

From another health care professional out here in the trenches, on the frontline of diabetes care, with inadequate resources, payors(insurance companies) that won't pay for necessary care, and inaccurate and inadequate media coverage of the burgeoning epidemic, that will shape the future of our countries health for decades to come, A-M-E-N to the above articulate commentary from my colleague in diabetes care. We need many more professionals like her/him. 
_______________________________________________________________________________
 Lets hope NBC in their infinite wisdom, and ability to get the message out doesn't stop at The Today Show, and does a comprehensive evening feature, as well as encourage affiliates to air all the PSA's on the topic possible.  If there ever was a time or a topic for a corporation to step up, its now.  If they can do such a great job of featuring colon cancer, you'd hope it wouldn't take a case of diabetes with serious and unnecessary complications amongst the Today show staff to get that type of coverage for diabetes.  Here's to hoping for a change!
Mary H, MS,RD,CDE

 

Your recent Today show neglected to include the most important part of Diabetes self management, that is diabetes education.  Diabetes education is the cornerstone of diabetes self management for blood glucose.  People with diabetes are responsible for greater than 90% of their care.  Nutrition is the oldest treatment for managing diabetes.  It requires time and education to plan meals that 'work' for the individual in managing blood glucose levels.  Activity is a natural method to reduce blood glucose levels.  Persons with diabetes must be educated in choosing and performing an activity safely.  Medication is needed when blood glucose cannot be controlled with nutrition and activity alone.  Education regarding the effects of medication and interaction with food and exercise must be provided to people with diabetes to avoid low, or high, blood glucose excursions.  Monitoring blood glucose levels provides the persons with diabetes with immediate blood glucose levels and allows them to take appropriate action if necessary.  Education provides important information to persons with diabetes and helps them to manage their disease and avoid the complications associated with diabetes.  Sir William Osler (circa 1800) said, "If you want to live a healthy life, develop a chronic disease and learn to take care of it."  People who do not received diabetes education become overly dependent on the health care system. Please consider another segment on the Today show, including the importance of diabetes education.

Yours truly,

Mary S, RN, MS, ANP, CDE
Doctoral Student, Educational Administration
Coordinator of Diabetes Education Center
Massapequa, New York

 

 

People who live 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year with diabetes are the ones who need to know what they should do to keep their blood sugar, blood pressure and condition in control.  Education is the foundation for that control.  Thank you for heeding this important issue.  People must be empowered not blamed for a disease they did not choose to inherit, but which they can choose to control.  Linda C. P, RN,C, BSN, MEd., CDE
President of Mississippi Association of Diabetes Educators

 

 

Dear Today Show Producers,

I am a certified diabetes nurse educator and have a major concern regarding the segment on diabetes aired February 7 and 8th (last week).  In speaking of diabetes control, education of the person with diabetes as well as family and significant others was sadly deleted from the presentation.
Please consider airing another segment on diabetes and self-management including the KEY component of education.  I am sure any of the fine diabetes educators located in the area where you  "air" the show, would be most happy to present along with other "diabetes team members".
Sincerely,
Bonita L. N. RN, MA, CDE

 

 

I agree with request for another segment with emphasis on prevention, early diagnosis, and education.
Jeffrey B. Crandall, M. D.
Medical Director, Iowa Health Physicians -- Waterloo Region
1825 Logan Avenue, Waterloo, IA  50703

 

 

I am disappointed that more wasn't said about education, the best way to control diabetes.  Without the full understanding of the necessity of eating correctly and exercising properly, the disease will get the best of us.  I was diagnosed 3 years ago at the age of 60 and am still learning, but to date have managed to control my diabetes through diet and exercise.  Do I always like it?  Of course not, but the alternative to not being the one in charge is not a choice I want to make.
Alice P. Connors, Concord, Massachusetts

 

 

"Television has become one of the great"teachers" in our society.  Use it well! Colon cancer got a week--diabetes deserves at least that much!

Susan Collins APRN, MS, CDE, Day Kimball Hospital, Diabetes Self-Management Education Program, 320 Pomfret Street , Putnam, Conn. 06260

 

 

Diabetes Education is the key to successfully controlling the Diabetic Patient.  I would hope
that you could do a segment explaining this most important factor.

Sonny G, Registered Pharmacist, Roth Pharmacy and Diabetes Shoppe, Elgin, IL 60120

 

 

Dear Today Show Producers:
I am responding along with Steve Freed regarding the Today Show episode in which you discussed diabetes.  All sentiments that have been expressed by Steve are mine, also.

I now understand why a class member did not seem convinced of the accuracy of my answer to the question he had about new insulins.  He probably saw this show.  

Like Steve, I empower people to be in charge of their lifelong condition of diabetes that is controlled by both diet modification, exercise, and up to 5 classes of medications available for diabetes.  One of the most important concepts people with diabetes must understand is their role diabetes and their role of their physician in controlling diabetes.  It is now known that keeping HbA1c's (the 3 month lab test) below 7% decreases risks associated with diabetes, including eye disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and nerve disease.  Therefore, as Steve stated it is important for people with diabetes to know their number and follow-up with their physician to get the blood work repeated every 3 or 6 months, even if they are not on prescriptions for their diabetes.

I'll conclude with early diagnosis and good control which includes education are key to minimizing diabetes complications.
Terry G. RN, BSN, CDE

 

Diabetes doesn't have to be the devastating disease that it once was. What prevents the devastation is that the person with diabetes can learn how to take care of him(her)self and keep the blood glucose (sugar) at a near normal level. This does not guarantee that problems will never happen, but an educated person will know what signs and symptoms to watch for, and what precautions to take. I hope you will follow up with more information about diabetes, emphasizing the importance of education. Diabetes Alert is a special American Diabetes Association program in March that raises awareness of diabetes. This would be an excellent time to do another story.
Eileen N, RN, BSN, CDE, Certified Diabetes Educator

 

I know that my patients get much of their health information from what they see on TV. If they are
encouraged to get tested or seek medical care, they've benefited from the broadcast. However, with a chronic condition like diabetes, they need more than a diagnosis and a prescription for medication. They will need to manage their condition 24 hours a day, which requires learning many new skills. The best person to guide a patient's self-management is a Certified Diabetes Educator. I would like to see a follow- up to the series on diabetes on the Today show which would explain the central role of the patient and the need for appropriate education so that the patient goes home with the tools he needs to be successful in lowering his Hemoglobin A1c and preventing the complications of diabetes.
Nancy B, MS, RD, CDE, Jordan Health Center, Rochester, NY

 

We strive to give people with diabetes the tools to manage this devastating disease every day! Their physicians or providers are able to spend only a fraction of time with these persons. It has become essential that a person who has diabetes know as much as possible about the disease to prevent the deadly complications that will follow if good control is not reached.
Julie S, BSN, CDE, Program Coordinator, Medcenter One Diabetes Care Center
Medcenter One Health Systems, Bismarck, ND 5850

 

I find diabetic information too often falls on deaf ears.  Unfortunately clinical symptoms are usually absent until the disease has progressed well beyond the point of prevention or early treatment. John  M, R. Ph.

 If you would like to add you name and/or comments please go to

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/educatorsforum21.htm 

Letter to NBC Today Show:

February 17, 2001

 

A Letter to the Today Show Regarding Their Feature on Diabetes which Aired on February 7 and 8^th  

I am the publisher of a newsletter called Diabetes In Control.com that goes out to over 10,000 medical professionals keeping them informed of all the current information on education, treatments, drugs, studies, medical devices, insulin pumps. We also provide studies for their patients to participate in. 

I am a pharmacist and a Certified Diabetes Educator and have private practice of working with people with diabetes to improve their health and prevent the complications from diabetes.  

There are over 10,000 diabetes educators. They are Nurses, Dietitians, Doctors, PhD’s and Pharmacists who work to improve patient’s lives.  

I appreciated your taking the time to have a feature on diabetes on Feb.7th & 8th but was very disappointed, with its inaccuracy and incompleteness.   Diabetes is an epidemic as you mentioned with a 70% increase in the 30 year old range and a 30% increase in teenagers.  It is a serious disease that can be devastating. 

Your program was rushed through as just another news item and I was disappointed that you left out the most important part of Diabetes Treatment and Care, which is ……. "EDUCATION” 

You mentioned many different tools to help with diabetes such as meters, insulin pens, short needles, etc, also you featured inhaled insulin, inhaled insulin has not been released and will not be released probably until next year.   

You did not take the time to show how simple it is to use a blood glucose monitor.   You left out some very important tools to help with diabetes like the fructosamine meter.  You only mentioned the continuous blood glucose meter and did not explain what is does. 

You neglected the different types of treatments with drugs and insulin’s, which are now available.  From 1950 to 1995 we only had one oral drug for diabetes and from 1995 to 2000, 6 new drugs and 2 new insulins became available.  Yet you neglected to mention any of them.  You mentioned that people should exercise and eat properly, when you could have explained why!   Foot care was not mentioned, even though it is the leading cause for limb amputation in the U.S.  

There are approximately 16 million people in the US that have diabetes and 40% do not know that they have it and will not know for up to 12 years. Twenty-five million people have Impaired Fasting Glucose and are on their way to getting diabetes, and that needed to be mentioned. 

You needed to discuss the Hemoglobin A1c test, which every diabetic should have at least 4 times a year.  This test gives a 90-day average blood sugar and tells how well they are doing with their diabetes.  The ADA states that every patient who is a diabetic and not controlled in the normal ranges should have it done 4 times a year, but only 20% of the patients receive the test.  A normal HbA1c is 4-6% and a person with diabetes should have an HbA1c of below 7% 

Your program would have been much more informative had you interviewed a diabetes educator, who is specially trained to work with patients with diabetes.  

You mentioned only briefly the signs of diabetes, prevention and screening.   

But the most important part of diabetes care, "EDUCATION" !!!, was not even mentioned.   

You missed the only thing that can control diabetes over time and prevent the complications of kidney failure, blindness, limb amputation, strokes, heart attacks and death! 

Diabetes cannot be controlled with only drugs as we have seen in the studies and it cannot be controlled with all the devices you briefly presented on a table for your audience.  Diabetes is a progressive disease, which will always, get worse over time.   

It has been shown that without empowering the patient to self-care, through education, diabetes will worsen.   When a doctor writes a prescription for a diabetes medication he knows it will fail over time.   Doctors, educators, nurses cannot control a patient’s diabetes!  The patient must control it!   The patient has to learn about their disease to control it.  The doctor is not with the patient when they are not exercising, when they are not watching their diet, when they are not monitoring their blood sugars. 

The patient must be empowered with education to self manage their own diabetes and it's important for patients to be good advocates for their own needs -- make sure that they have screening tests for early complications and that their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are well controlled.

 You could have brought to your viewers’ attention that almost all patients with diabetes should take an aspirin a day (if they're over age 21). It prevents heart attacks and strokes. 

 Medicare now pays for diabetes education, 38 states now have laws requiring insurance companies to pay for education, meters and blood glucose strips.  You could have told your audience that if they have diabetes, to check with the The American Diabetes Association (ADA) or the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE)  to find out about their state's laws and how to find a diabetes program or educator in their area. 

The average blood sugar (HbA1c) in the US for diabetics is over 9%, (Normal is below 6%).  Anything over 8 means that the diabetes is causing, blindness, kidney failure and circulatory problems.    The studies (UKPDS and DCCT Studies) have shown that if you keep your blood sugars in the normal range, you can prevent the complications from diabetes by up to 78%.  

There is no reason that with all the knowledge we have and all the medications and tools available that anyone with diabetes in this country should have blood sugars above normal, yet 85% do.   

I understand that you only had 10 minutes on two different days, but they could have been spent more wisely.  I hope you will consider doing another show on diabetes, but this time talk to a diabetes educator who works with people with diabetes everyday. 

I tell diabetic patients that they are lucky to have diabetes, because by the time they finish working with a diabetes educator, they will be healthier then 99% of the people in their age group.  We can help them to control their blood sugars and prevent the complications through education. 

There have been so many advances over the last five years that it's hard for patients as well as health-care providers to keep up with the most recent advances. To help keep medical professionals and patients current we have put together a diabetes newsletter and website at www.diabetesincontrol.com   

Thank you for listening to me and please consider doing another feature on the importance of education in controlling the complications from diabetes.   

 

Sincerely,

 

Steve Freed, R.Ph., Diabetes Educator, Publisher

Dave Joffe, R.Ph., Cph., Editor Diabetes In Control.com

800-798-6972   steverx@home.com